Regions
Freemont backs Indian eco-products start-up
Freemont Partners has invested in Natural Mantra, an Indian online start-up that sells eco-conscious products. The size of the transaction was not disclosed.
Asia PE investment: Korea makes a splash
With four deals of $350m or more in the last few weeks, South Korea has made its mark on Asia’s private equity investment league table. Why is it happening and can it continue?
Qianhai offers RMB funds fast track
Renminbi-denominated private equity funds will get special dispensation to raise capital in Hong Kong through a new pilot project in Shenzhen. As ever, the devil is in the detail, which has yet to be fully explained
Clove sees 20x return on Philippines oil deal
The Philippines has long been perceived as a black hole for private equity. Clove Capital, which spun out from EMP Daiwa Capital Asia, begs to differ and now it has evidence to support its case: a 20x return on an investment in Philippines oil exploration...
Quadrant in quasi-secondary retail deal
Does Quadrant Private Equity's investment in Super A-Mart and Barbeques Galore constitute a quasi-secondary transaction?
PE firms hedge their bets
Numerous private equity and hedge funds are pursuing alliances with one another in Asia. Could a multi-strategy approach be the golden strategy for the region’s investment environment?
China take-privates, part 34
One week, two private equity-backed management buyout offers for Chinese companies listed on NASDAQ, and a lot of fuss from (some, but not all) media outlets about how this is the start of something big. It’s not.
SBI teams up with China’s Yidian to launch PE Fund
SBI Holdings has partnered with China’s Yidian Holdings to launch a private equity fund that will invest in the technology, media and telecom (TMT) sector. The initial fundraising target is RMB400 million ($62.9 million).
GE, VC firms to back Australasia cleantech start-ups
General Electric (GE) has teamed up with five venture capital firms in Australia and New Zealand on a $10 million fund that will support the development of clean technology. It is the company’s first ever local “ecoimagination” challenge and entries...
Actis invests in Sri Lanka’s Asiri Central Hospitals
Actis has purchased a 10.8% stake in Sri Lanka’s Asiri Central Hospitals for LKR604 million ($4.5 million). The emerging markets-focused private equity firm acquired 2.4 million shares in the Colombo-listed company from Softlogic Holdings, Commercial...
NBA star Yao Ming steps into private equity - report
Yao Ming, China's former NBA star, has reportedly invested in two private equity funds since 2011. The funds are between them targeting about RMB6.6 billion ($1.1 billion).
KKR invests $30m in China apparel retailer Novo
KKR has invested $30 million in Novo, a fashion apparel retailer focused on the urban youth demographic in China.
Mercury Capital poaches Crescent investment director
Australian mid-market private equity firm Mercury Capital has reportedly hired Christopher Criddle, partner and investment director at rival firm Crescent Capital Partners.
Actis exits Dalmia Bharat Sugar & Industries - report
Actis is said to have exited its 5.5% stake in Dalmia Bharat Sugar & Industries - formerly Dalmia Cement Bharat - for INR82.7 million ($1.5 million).
PE exits in India down by 90% in second quarter - PwC
India private equity exits fell 89% year-on-year to just $108 million in the second quarter. This came from 12 transactions, down 33%, according to a report published by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
VIDEO: Shearman & Sterling's Lorna Chen
Foreign-backed renminbi funds are likely to struggle to raise capital in China after the regulator decreed that such vehicles don’t qualify for local treatment for investment purposes, says Lorna Chen, a partner at Shearman & Sterling
Australia's QIC to pick up Swedish PE interests - report
Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) is reportedly set to buy almost 10% of a EUR1.5 billion ($1.9 billion) portfolio of private equity interests being sold by Swedish insurance group Länsförsäkringar.
KKR fund among AIFs to operate in India under new route
KKR’s India Alternate Credit Opportunities Fund is among seven alternative investment funds (AIFs) that have been approved by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
CalPERS invests $530m in two China-focused property funds
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) has committed $530 million to two China-focused real estate funds run by ARA Asset Management, a Singapore-listed affiliate of Cheung Kong Holdings.
GGV receives commitments of $509m for fund IV
GGV Capital, the US and China-focused venture capital investor, has raised $508.9 million for its fourth fund. In addition to the main fund, the VC firm has attracted $10.8 million for a side vehicle known as GGV Capital IV Entrepreneurs Fund.
Origo secures $60m for China cleantech fund, targets first close by year end
Origo Partners, a London-listed private equity investor focused exclusively on China, has received $60 million in commitments for a $200 million fund targeting cleantech companies.
Peepul Capital makes two investments in Chennai
Peepul Capital, an India-focused private equity firm, has invested $15-25 million each in two Chennai-based companies - Consul Consolidated, a power solution company, and Cura Healthcare, a radiology equipment maker. Both investments were channeled from...
Middletons and K&L Gates mull merger
Australian law firm Middletons is in discussions with global player K&L Gates about a potential merger. It would create a firm of more than 2,000 lawyers in 45 offices throughout Australia, Asia, and the Middle East, the Americas and Europe.
STIC-led group preferred bidder for Korean weapons manufacturer
A consortium formed by South Korean private equity firm STIC Investments and brokerage Hana Daetoo Securities has been selected as the preferred bidder for a stake in South Korea's LIG Nex1. The weapons manufacturer is offloading a 49% interest worth...